DORA
EU regulation for digital operational resilience in financial sector
EPA
U.S. federal regulations for environmental protection standards
Quick Verdict
DORA mandates digital resilience for EU financial firms against ICT risks via testing and oversight, while EPA enforces environmental standards for US industries through permits, monitoring, and emissions controls. Firms adopt DORA for regulatory compliance, EPA to avoid penalties and ensure operations.
DORA
Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, Digital Operational Resilience Act
Key Features
- Mandates comprehensive ICT risk management frameworks overseen by management
- Requires 4-hour initial reporting for major ICT incidents
- Imposes triennial threat-led penetration testing for critical entities
- Establishes direct oversight of critical third-party ICT providers
- Harmonizes resilience standards across 27 EU member states
EPA
U.S. EPA Environmental Protection Standards
Key Features
- Multi-layered standards across air, water, waste media
- Technology- and health-based performance requirements
- Facility-specific permitting and state implementation
- Rigorous monitoring, recordkeeping, and data governance
- Predictable enforcement with penalty structures
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
DORA Details
What It Is
DORA, formally Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, is a transformative EU regulation enhancing digital operational resilience in the financial sector against ICT risks like cyberattacks and outages. Applicable to 20 financial entity types and critical third-party providers (CTPPs) across 27 member states, it employs a proactive, risk-based, proportional approach from January 17, 2025.
Key Components
- **ICT Risk ManagementComprehensive frameworks with identification, mitigation, and annual reviews.
- **Incident Reporting4-hour initial alerts, 72-hour updates, 1-month root-cause analysis.
- **Resilience TestingAnnual basic tests; triennial threat-led penetration testing (TLPT).
- **Third-Party OversightDue diligence, monitoring, ESAs supervision of CTPPs. Built on harmonization; penalties up to 2% global turnover for noncompliance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Ensures legal compliance amid rising cyber threats (74% firms hit by ransomware).
- Mitigates systemic risks, boosts recovery (RTO <4 hours).
- Enhances trust, drives cybersecurity innovation.
- Mandatory for EU financials; strategic for resilience.
Implementation Overview
Conduct gap analyses, develop policies, run tests, map vendors. Proportional to size/complexity; EU-focused. No certification, but ESAs oversight and audits required. (178 words)
EPA Details
What It Is
EPA standards are a family of legally binding U.S. federal regulations administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), implementing major statutes like the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). They establish enforceable requirements for air, water, and waste management to protect human health and the environment. The approach combines technology-based performance standards, health-based ambient criteria, and risk management through permits and monitoring.
Key Components
- Numeric limits, thresholds, and work practices across media (air emissions, effluent discharges, hazardous waste controls).
- Permitting systems (NPDES, Title V, RCRA permits) for site-specific obligations.
- Monitoring, recordkeeping, reporting (e.g., DMRs, QA/QC).
- Enforcement pathways with civil/criminal penalties. Built on statutory authority codified in 40 CFR; compliance via audits, no central certification.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for regulated entities to avoid penalties, shutdowns, and liabilities. Drives risk reduction, ESG alignment, operational efficiency, and stakeholder trust amid dynamic rulemakings.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, controls design, training, digital monitoring. Applies to industries like manufacturing, energy; multi-state operations need federal-state mapping. Involves audits, no formal certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | DORA | EPA |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Digital operational resilience in finance | Environmental protection across air, water, waste |
| Industry | EU financial entities and ICT providers | US industries like manufacturing, energy, agriculture |
| Nature | Mandatory EU regulation with ESAs enforcement | Mandatory US regulations via permits and inspections |
| Testing | Annual basic tests, triennial TLPT | Monitoring, sampling, continuous emissions checks |
| Penalties | Up to 2% global turnover fines | Civil penalties, injunctions, criminal liability |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DORA and EPA
DORA FAQ
EPA FAQ
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